Everyday Use

What is the central conflict of Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”?

• the cultural and personal struggle between Maggie and her mom vs. Dee
• the inner conflict between Dee vs. herself on whether she should claim what is rightfully hers
• the political and racial struggle of Maggie, her mom, and Dee vs. white society
• the socioeconomic clash between the poor and the rich

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What do the churn, the quilt, and the Polaroids that Dee takes best symbolize to her?

• the Black Pride movement and empowerment popular in the 1960s and the AfricanAmerican voice over those who attempt to stifle it
• her family’s hard work and support of Dee, her education, and her upbringing
• relics from her family’s past and African-American culture that should be remembered but not used
• slavery and all of the atrocities that African-Americans endured over the years

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

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Dee and Maggie are foils or characters who different or opposed to each other in all of the following ways except which?

• Dee is intelligent while Maggie is not as bright
• Dee is physically strong and tough while Maggie is mentally strong.
• Dee is selfish while Maggie is selfless.
• Dee neglects her past while Maggie is loyal to her mom and home life.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.9

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All of the following quotes are clues or examples of the Johnson's’ poor status except which?

• “Everything delighted [Dee]. Even the fact that we still used the benches her daddy made for the table when we couldn’t afford to buy chairs.”
• “[T]hat was before we raised the money, the church and me, to send her to Augusta to school.”
• “[T]hen the two of us sat there just enjoying, until it was time to go in the house and go to bed.” 
• “There are no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides, like the portholes in a ship, but not round and not square, with rawhide holding the shutters up on the outside.”

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

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How does the action of Maggie “[trying] to dig a well in the sand with her toe” characterize her when Dee returns home?

• This action characterizes Maggie as being adventurous and curious of the world around her. 
• This action characterizes Maggie as being conscientious and mindful of the earth. 
• This action characterizes Maggie as being physical and energetic. 
• This action characterizes Maggie as being weak, non-confrontational, or afraid of Dee. 

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

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Mama doesn’t provide or state the name of Dee’s male friend whom she nicknames Asalamalakim for all of the following reasons except which? 

• “Asalamalakim” characterizes him and his interests enough to Mama.
• He isn’t important enough to Mama for her to remember him or his name. 
• Once she does learn his real name, it is too difficult to pronounce and remember. 
• She calls him this name in a disparaging way to show her hatred for the Muslim religion. 

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CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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Why does Mama still refer to Dee by her preferred name (Wangero) when referencing her?

• Mama agrees with her daughter that African-Americans shouldn’t use their slave names and should all invent new names for each other
• Mama doesn’t respect her daughter’s choices and teases her by using her new name
• Mama  still respects her wishes and will call her daughter what she prefers.
• Mama uses the name to mock her daughter and criticize how different she is now.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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Who is the narrator of "Everyday Use"?

• Dee
• Maggie
• Unidentified
• the mother

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Why does Dee change her name?

• She did not like her Aunt Dee
• Her boyfriend told her to
• She wanted to make Mamma mad
• So she won't have a white oppressor name

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

When Ms. Johnson offers Dee a quilt in the past, what is Dee's reaction?

• She gave it ways
• She doesn't want it because it is old-fashioned.
• She threw it in the trash
• She sold them to a white lady for tuition

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

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